By Saheed Ibrahim

Ondo State Government has inaugurated Schools’ Culture and Tourism Club across public and private schools in the State to preserve cultural heritage of its people.

Inaugurating the club in Akure, the state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Wale Akinlosotu said the place of art and culture in any society cannot be over emphasised, hence, the need to catch the attention of young people early and involve them in the process of preserving the cultural heritage of the people.

While thanking, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for placing premium on the development of culture and tourism sector in the state, he said with the inauguration of the clubs in schools, the students would play active roles in preserving their respective cultures and also help in ensuring that the cultures do not go into extinction.

He charged members of the club across schools to live up to expectations just as he highlighted some of the windows of economic opportunities in cultural tourism.

In his remarks, Ondo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Femi Agagu assured of his ministry’s support to preserving cultural heritage

In separate remarks, the Special Adviser to Governor Akeredolu on Education, Dr. Wunmi Ilawole and the representative of Chairman of SUBEB, Mr Victor Olabimtan charged the students to use the opportunity to learn how to build their self confidence and value system, saying culture is dynamic and there is the need to continuously take pride in their heritage.

In his welcome address, the Director of Tourism in the ministry, Mr. Adeola Aderinola said the event became necessary to create awareness on the need to explore to the fullest tourism potentials in the state while also preserving the cultures of the people by creating awareness among key stakeholders.

Students from various schools in the state were also in attendance.